--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is…" description: "\"How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?\" — RZA" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/rza-1981_dead_how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-fo_1321772.png" --- # How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever? ![“How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?” quote by RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/rza-1981_dead_how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-fo_1321772.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/rza-1981_dead_how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-fo_1321772.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/rza-1981_dead_how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-fo_1321772.png) > “How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?” [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wu‑Tang’s lasting influence shows hip‑hop’s vitality despite claims of its demise. **In simple terms:** Hip‑hop lives on through legends. Key Takeaway Celebrate enduring culture. Themes hip‑hop legacy culture Mood energetic proud Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - music festivals - radio shows - academic courses Key Concepts music history artistic influence Questions to Reflect On - What keeps hip‑hop alive? - How do legends shape music? A Different Perspective Some may view the genre as evolving, not dead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-wu-4407878/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Hips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hips/) [Hop Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hop-dead-1829063/) [Hops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hops/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Tang Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tang-forever-4407879/) [Wu Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wu-tang/) ## Related quotes > [We told you Wu-Tang was forever, and some people forgot that. It's not some fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-told-you-wu-tang-was-forever-and-some-people-forgot-that-it-s-not/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [People who say that music is dead or hip-hop is dead are refusing to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/people-who-say-that-music-is-dead-or-hip-hop-is-dead-are-refusing-to/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [Everyone's been on the "hip-hop is dead" campaign for years, and now it's the most unsure-of-itself genre ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/everyone-s-been-on-the-hip-hop-is-dead-campaign-for-years-and-now-it/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [It's not just hip-hop that's dead. Mostly every form of American music is dead. It's been dead. R&B isn't really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/it-s-not-just-hip-hop-that-s-dead-mostly-every-form-of-american-music/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I feel like your city - with hip hop in particular, because we're always beating our chest and shouting where we're from - your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-feel-like-your-city-with-hip-hop-in-particular-because-we-re-always/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [Keep my planets in orbit, Never forfeit or quit, Move forward... I talk with the awkward slang, I walk with the Wu-Tang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/keep-my-planets-in-orbit-never-forfeit-or-quit-move-forward-i-talk/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [The fundamental message of the Wu Tang music is as vast as the ocean in all reality, but it's still a straight path. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/the-fundamental-message-of-the-wu-tang-music-is-as-vast-as-the-ocean/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [If hip-hop is dead, then let it rest in peace and let's move on to something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-thought/if-hip-hop-is-dead-then-let-it-rest-in-peace-and-let-s-move-on-to/) [Black Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-thought/) > [They told me Hip-Hop dead, so late night, I'm at the cemetary diggin' his grave out, These old niggaz washed up, played out, Whip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/they-told-me-hip-hop-dead-so-late-night-i-m-at-the-cemetary-diggin/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [I think hip hop is dead. It's all pop now. If you call it hip hop, then you need to stop. Hip hop was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-think-hip-hop-is-dead-it-s-all-pop-now-if-you-call-it-hip-hop-then/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [I want Cypress Hill to be the Grateful Dead of hip-hop. The Dead never wore out their welcome, and I hope in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-real/i-want-cypress-hill-to-be-the-grateful-dead-of-hip-hop-the-dead-never/) [B-Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-real/) > [Nah, I'm not one of those 'hip-hop is dead' people. I just like different artists. I never look at it as one entity. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-ma/nah-i-m-not-one-of-those-hip-hop-is-dead-people-i-just-like-different/) [Remy Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-ma/) > [I think that people have been claiming hip-hop as being dead since the moment it started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-think-that-people-have-been-claiming-hip-hop-as-being-dead-since/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I think that people have been claiming hip-hop as being dead since the moment it started. I think there are people - and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-think-that-people-have-been-claiming-hip-hop-as-being-dead-since-2/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) ## More by RZA > [I have to make beats every day. Wherever I go, I got a keyboard waiting for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-have-to-make-beats-every-day-wherever-i-go-i-got-a-keyboard-waiting/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I didn't learn black history in school. I had to go find Malcolm X books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-didn-t-learn-black-history-in-school-i-had-to-go-find-malcolm-x/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [It is sad that the world has gotten more of my time than my children, but my children benefit from it through their financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/it-is-sad-that-the-world-has-gotten-more-of-my-time-than-my-children/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [When I first heard hip-hop, in 1976, there were maybe only 500 people that could do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/when-i-first-heard-hip-hop-in-1976-there-were-maybe-only-500-people/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [Grew up in Stapleton House village, where blood flood the waters in the streets like oil spillage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/grew-up-in-stapleton-house-village-where-blood-flood-the-waters-in/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I love the Bee Gees, and I love Barry Gibb and Andy Gibb. I listen to them almost every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-love-the-bee-gees-and-i-love-barry-gibb-and-andy-gibb-i-listen-to/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [What happens to a lot of artists in the music industry right now is the following: The music industry is plummeting real fast. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/what-happens-to-a-lot-of-artists-in-the-music-industry-right-now-is/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [There are lawyers advising to sue, so the lawyers can keep their retainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/there-are-lawyers-advising-to-sue-so-the-lawyers-can-keep-their/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I could never be a control freak. If Wu-Tang is a dictatorship, how does every Wu-Tang member have their own contract, their own career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-could-never-be-a-control-freak-if-wu-tang-is-a-dictatorship-how/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I think as time goes on that generation of rappers who's making it now is gonna face the same thing that my generation was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-think-as-time-goes-on-that-generation-of-rappers-who-s-making-it/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > ['Grease?' I watch that film over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/grease-i-watch-that-film-over-and-over/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I'm glad Wu-Tang was able to inspire other producers and artists, but I would never want to be erased or removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-m-glad-wu-tang-was-able-to-inspire-other-producers-and-artists-but/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I'd hate to compare art to life but I think a movie is an entity of its own, and when it's done, you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-d-hate-to-compare-art-to-life-but-i-think-a-movie-is-an-entity-of/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [When we was making a song called 'Bring Da Ruckus,' we took the snare, and we put it in an elevator shaft and recorded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/when-we-was-making-a-song-called-bring-da-ruckus-we-took-the-snare/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) [Explore all 193 RZA quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) [Browse all 3,376 Dead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "RZA" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-forever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-forever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/rza-1981_dead_how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-fo_1321772.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/rza-1981_dead_how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-fo_1321772.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/rza-1981_dead_how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-fo_1321772.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How can hip hop be dead if Wu-Tang is forever?” — RZA", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "RZA", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How can hip hop be dead...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-forever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/how-can-hip-hop-be-dead-if-wu-tang-is-forever/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```